Centacare Eating Disorder Support Services (EDSS)

Organisation / Service

Centacare Catholic Family Services

The Eating Disorder Support Services (EDSS) offers comprehensive non-clinical recovery support tailored to individual’s ages 12 and above experiencing an eating disorder, disordered eating, body image concerns/disturbances and/or unhelpful relationships with food. Acknowledging the impact on both individuals and their support networks EDSS extends its service to families and careers.

The service provides support for a period of 6-9 months guiding individuals through their unique recovery journey and if applicable fostering a seamless transition to other relevant services upon completion of EDSS. Operating across South Australia, EDSS delivers nonclinical support through a range of accessible channels, including phone support, face-to-face outreach, support groups, workshops, and presentations. Our outreach initiatives enable us to connect with individuals in familiar community settings such as schools, homes, hospitals, Centacare sites, cafes, and libraries, ensuring convenience and support.

The EDSS team compromises of highly skilled mental health professionals which include, Mental Health workers, Lived Experience Peer Workers and other relevant professionals. Together, EDSS offers a comprehensive suite of support services aimed at addressing diverse needs and fostering holistic and personal recovery. Some of these include but are not limited to, reducing isolation, exploring an identity outside of an eating disorder, providing hope and empowerment, lived-experience peer support, enhancing social connections and resources, guidance in navigating and accessing services, advocacy, and promotion of self-advocacy, connecting families to resources and services, collaboration with clinical and non-clinical services. The EDSS service focuses on prioritising client centred practice through empowering individuals, fostering hope and self-determination, and supporting individuals in reclaiming meaningful lives beyond their eating disorder.

Additionally, EDSS has Peer Led support and Youth support groups that run throughout the financial year, aligning with evidence-based practices derived from comprehensive research and data collation. Whether conducted online or in-person, the Peer-led support groups aim to empower individuals on their recovery journey, fostering a supportive environment conducive to growth and resilience. 

National Strategy Standards and Actions

Psychosocial and recovery support

Standard 1: People experiencing eating disorders and their families/supports have access to psychosocial and recovery support services and programs, according to their needs.

Action 1.4: Psychosocial and recovery service providers to ensure that programs and services are available for people experiencing eating disorders and their families/supports.

Action 1.6: Providers of referral databases and practice guidelines to include psychosocial and recovery support interventions.

Standard 3: The evidence base for the efficacy of psychosocial and recovery support services and programs is further developed.

Action 3.1: Services providing psychosocial and recovery support to ensure that services/programs are evaluated.

Action 3.3: Researchers and services to disseminate findings and support knowledge translation.